Tuesday, February 22, 2011

scenes from san francisco

our trip to san francisco last week was far too short, but wonderful all the same.  we got to see many of our old friends, eat at our favorite places, and run some errands.  we also had multiple amazing conversations with all the right people.   there have been a number of big life topics that have come up for us lately.  it was so amazing to hear that we are not alone in the things which we're going through right now, and to gain a little perspective from similar experiences.  every conversation we had was just what we needed.

here's a little peek at our trip:


{eating at our old neighborhood cafe, the bean bag, where we ran into an old friend of the mister's.  that happens all the time in san francisco.  it's really quite a small city!}

{during our few free hours we roamed through our favorite thrift shops on haight street.}

{the best tikka masala i've ever had, at naan n curry in the sunset.  mmm!}


{our friends we stayed with have the cutest apartment, which they painted themselves. they also have two ridiculously adorable little boys which made for very entertaining mornings. one morning i heard him exclaim to his mom "i think the Girl One is up!"}


{the beautiful bay bridge.}

{the view of the city from treasure island, where our dear friend lives. i used to go running along the edge of the island when i lived there long ago. i loved watching the sun glimmer on all the buildings along the embarcadero in the mornings.}

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a lot of you have asked me questions about our life in san francisco, so i wanted to take a minute to answer some of them.

when/why did i move to san francisco?
i moved to san francisco in december 6 years ago.  i had just finished college and couldn't stand living in my small southern town any longer.  i had to get out!  i literally sold everything in my apartment, bought a one-way ticket, and flew out 3 days after christmas with only two boxes of belongings.  i didn't know a soul, have a place to live, or have a job.  one of my ex-boyfriend's old high school friends picked me up from the airport and took me to the ex-boyfriend's apartment, where i stayed in his room for a few weeks while he was away.  it was the scariest, most thrilling experience of my life to completely start over like that, totally on my own, but i did it!   

how did i meet the mister?
we had actually met back in tennessee and dated for a year in college.  we were in very different places though, so like many college relationships, we broke up.  we eventually reconnected in san francisco and completely started over at the beginning. we were friends for a couple years in san francisco {pursuing other dating experiences}, before we began to have feelings for each other again.  eventually we decided that we wanted to give it another go.  three years after dating the second time, we got engaged and then hitched last september.  

what neighborhood did i live in?
for the first few months i lived on treasure island.  it was a blast to pretend to be a pirate and enjoy the amazing view of the city.  but i felt isolated in the middle of the bay, and i ended up getting a studio in the NOPA {north of the panhandle} neighborhood.  i was smack dab in the middle of the city and it was an easy walk to pacific heights, upper fillmore, lower haight, upper haight, the mission, and the castro.  i was only a couple blocks from alamo square {the "full house" park} and golden gate park.  i loved that neighborhood, and its central location allowed me to walk everywhere.  most people don't realize it, but the city of san francisco is only 7 miles by 7 miles, and really, the only places you would want to go is more within a 3 mile radius.  there were about a dozen great restaurants, a few cafes, an awesome music venue, and some bars within a couple blocks of my apartment.  and on sundays they closed down my block to traffic and set up a farmer's market just outside my door.  it was perfect!

so why in the world would we ever leave san francisco?!
as much as i am in love with san francisco, i am even more in love with change.  i am definitely a bohemian at heart and i can't imagine ever staying in one place for too long.  that was also the city of my fiercely independent growth into womanhood, and i thought it would be a good idea to start life with my partner in a new city that didn't represent so much of my single life.  we also have a good number of friends down in los angeles that we were ready to live near, and we missed summer terribly {if you don't know, san francisco is pretty much chilly and foggy year round, especially during the traditional summer months}.  

so there you have it.  i wouldn't be surprised if we move back there someday, but for now, we're soaking up the joys of having a new city to explore.

35 comments:

  1. mmm, i love san fran too. your cliff dive to san fran, sounds like mine to la. after college i wanted some sunshine so i packed my car and drove west, no job, no place to stay. of course i didnt tell my parents that haha. you are a kindred spirit! i agree it's the most exhilarating feeling of freedom. i hope la treats you right : ) !

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  2. WoW!!! I couldn't believe it that you started a new life on your own back then in SF with nothing but your determination & perseverance.
    You are one tough lady!

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  3. "A bohemian at heart,"--> I love that line. I feel the same way about staying in a place for too long. Change scares me a little because I have never been away from my parents but I am so ready to spread my wings and fly for grad school. I am sure it will be a great getting-to-know-me experience.

    It was nice getting to know you better my friend, I enjoyed reading these answers. Oh, and great photos.

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  4. Kids give the greatest comments don't they. A few weeks ago a 5 year-old asked me if I had a baby in my tummy, to which I could only answer yes, and he asked if the doctor had told me that... what do you answer to that? I love those comments.

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  5. I'm so glad you found some comfort (and good food) while you were in San Francisco. I think it's often hard to leave a place that's become home, but home really is all about the people you're with, right? I adore that you love change so much. If my lifestyle afforded it, I would be in new places on a regular basis as well.

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  6. Oh my gosh, how fun. I want to go to San Francisco!

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  7. Awww, it looks like you guys had a lot of fun up there. I seriously love that city too :)

    I love hearing the story about how you moved there and your life! Thanks so much for answering those questions - it's so interesting to learn about your life that way! :) You're my hero - that gypsy soul that can pick up her bags and completely move to a new place :) You're really living such the dream life - you'll have so many experiences to tell the grandkids someday :)

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  8. Beautiful! I was wondering about all of these questions too and it's so adventurous and sweet! I wonder if I would have the guts to just pick up and move across country like that on my own! The only other thing I wonder about in CA is cost of living. All I ever hear from this side of the continent is that CA is expensive! How did you move right in there after college?

    I didn't know that you and Dannon had already known each other! Did he go to college in Tennessee?

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  9. oh my heavens. san francisco is amazing. i spent one fabulous night there on my vacation down the west coast, and it will forever be imprinted in my memory. we stayed in a little motel on lombard, walked all around those hilly, wonderful streets, and got chowder by the wharf. i would love to spend more time and, like you, be a "pirate" of that amazing city.

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  10. I always get excited when I read about San Francisco blogs. I love this city, and it's always nice to hear the same thing from other people! (It's nice to know you ventured out to other places and other adventures bec I will soon be doing the same myself!)

    PS I thought that thrift shop looked familiar!

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  11. sf will always have my heart. My aunt lives in the mission and I used to spend my summers there. i miss my morning walks to tarnte and my evening dinners at dosa! mmm

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  12. I love your story. It's really inspirational. I really want to be brave like that and just go. I love to travel and experience new things but i'm nervous about just packing up and going. Maybe one day i will move to NYC like i dream of doing. =)

    love your pictures too!

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  13. This is my most favorite post ever! I love your love story and the fact that you lived on Treasure Island. And the photos? You have an amazing camera and eye for photography.

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  14. This was such a great post to read. Thank you for filling us in, Kimbirdy! Mind if you call you that? : ) My brother just made a case study on San Francisco (http://recities.blogspot.com/search/label/San%20Francisco) so it was nice to actually know what you were talking about when you mentioned where you used to live. I'm looking forward to reading more of your new adventures!

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  15. Looks like a great trip. I am in love with San Francisco. I have a goal to live there for a year. Preferably 2012!

    Ramblings of a Small Town Girl

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  16. that thrift store looks amazing!

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  17. What beautiful pictures :) Thank you for posting them; it makes me feel as though I'm right there with you (and some of the best Indian food I've ever tasted was in San Fran. MMmmmmmmm!) I love your bohemian nature.

    Also your friend's apartment is absolutely ADORABLE!!! (and so is her little one) :)

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  18. Oh, I am nominating you for the Stylish Blogger Award! Your blog is beautiful and always inspires me!

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  19. thanks for sharing these photos and stories. i enjoyed reading...

    rockoomph.blogspot.com

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  20. The photos are so lovely, it looks like it was an amazing place to live. Wow, that was seriously brave of you to just pack up and move like that, very inspiring! I liked reading more about you, thanks for sharing :)

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  21. One of these days I am so going to make it to San Francisco! It looks amazing.

    That being said, I think you're brave and bold to start life over again together in a new city, and I know that you're both making the very most of all that L.A. has to offer!

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  22. these are beautiful photos! and i love your story about why you moved to san francisco and how you and your husband reconnected. i would love to just move to a new place and see where that takes me. :)

    <3, Mimi
    http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

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  23. GOOSH i need to go to San Fran ASAP! i literally have ALWAYS wanted to go! luckkky. i love the pic of those sea creature sticky things. haha.

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  24. Oh how I love San Francisco! I would never leave it for LA - actually, I am trying to do quite the opposite!

    Lovely blog!

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  25. What a delightful peek into your San Francisco experiences!

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  26. Girl One, I love the story of you and your Boy One. Your time in San Francisco sounds amazing, and what you've written here makes me want to head north and explore the city. I'm glad you found your way down here to SoCal...I hope it's treating you well!
    xox

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  27. these photos are wonderful. really.. that thrift store! and the little piano. i would love one of those in my home some day!

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  28. Oh I loved reading about your SF life. To me the Bay area also represented a time of growth and independence... I'm glad you had a great visit and I agree about Naan & Curry, it's so delicious!

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  29. this was such a wonderful post and i loved to learn more about you. i grew up in a small town and went to uni in a neighboring city, but have moved and moved so much. when i first moved to seattle i was 100% without anyone and it was so terrifyingly exhilarating!! i loved reading how you came to sf to just give it a whirl. so awesome!!

    xo,
    c

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  30. yay! thrift shops! <3 :D sending my love to SF. have a fantastic week Kim!

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  31. San Francisco looks sooo amazing! I can't wait to visit and explore it someday, not just 'drive' though it to get somewhere else! :)

    http://annawalker1992.blogspot.com/

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  32. "such great heights" is a PERFECT song (thanks for "playing it for me" *wink) for your love story (with the mister and your life!)

    i love the meaning san fran has for you and yet your need and little fear of change... "bohemian at heart" -- love it!

    ps. i also love a girl who pigs out when she eats indian food... me too!

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  33. Loving your SF trip pictures! I need to try this indian place you speak of and that's too funny you lived on Treasure Island at one point. I've never met someone that actually lived there!! ;) Glad you enjoyed your trip!!

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  34. Looks like a blast. Oh, a I love D.'s hat. So bohemian.
    I like the idea of moving. I hope to be in a new city soon, enough.

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